"Britain's prime minister Thatcher is right in refusing to yield political
status to Bobby Sands (but by appearing) unfeeling and unresponsive
(she gave Sands) the crown of martyrdom."

In Adnan's own words: "My dignity is more precious than food." He's
willing to die courageously defending it. West Bank, Gaza, and other
protesters joined Adnan's strike supportively. Global tweets circulate
on his behalf. Expect much more if he dies.

On February 8, Amnesty International said Israel uses "administrative
detention to lock up Palestinian activists without charge, violating
their rights to a fair trial." AI said "Israel must release or try Palestinian
detainee on prolonged hunger strike."

After examining him on January 29 (his only medical contact since arrested),
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-I) said:

"His clothes were dirty. His finger(nails) were not trimmed for a long
time, and he started to lose his hair." Not having showed since arrested,
"(h)is body odor was unpleasant, and (he) lost a third of his weight."

He's fading fast, "suffers from chest pains, and feels he has days,
maybe hours, to live."

"Throughout his detention, (he) was subjected to degrading and inhuman
treatment, including physical abuse, prolonged periods of interrogation,
isolation and unsanitary conditions of detention."

His condition's now extremely grave. Yet prison authorities shamelessly
called his health "acceptable." They found no grounds for shortening
his detention or releasing him.

Al-Haq said Israel's administrative detention practice without charge
"constitutes a serious breach of international humanitarian and human
rights law." Permitted only under exceptional conditions, Israel uses
it abusively against political and human rights activists to hold them
indefinitely.

As a result, hundreds of Palestinians suffer abusively in Israeli prisons
under horrendous conditions, including isolation and brutalizing torture.

PCHRO urged international community members to act on his behalf and
abide by their legal obligation to do so. In light of the European Parliament's
position on Palestinian prisoners, it asked MEPs to confront Israeli
authorities and send a fact-finding mission to examine other arbitrarily
detained Palestinians.

Global Media React

Major media rarely mention Palestinian prisoners, never truthfully with
full disclosure. On February 8, BBC reported his "critical condition"
without explaining Israel's appalling injustice.

Like US media scoundrels, BBC displays distorted, one-sided pro-Israeli
bias and hostile Palestinian antipathy. Its inglorious tradition continues
on all major world and national issues, especially those related to
wealth, power, and imperial lawlessness.

On February 9, AP did no better. It spuriously called him a West Bank
spokesman for "an Iranian-backed militant group that has killed dozens
of Israelis in suicide bombings and other attacks...." In fact, he's
a Palestinian activist/political prisoner willing to die expressing
opposition to Israeli injustice.

A Final Comment

On February 9, Israel's Military Court will hold a special final appeal
session bedside at Safad Hospital where Adnan's held, shackled to his
bed, near death.

Moving him to court could hasten it. On February 8, the Palestinian
Authority called for his immediate release. The Addameer prisoner support/human
rights group expressed "its utmost concern" for his health and holds
Israel responsible, adding:

Extreme weight loss left him "incredibly small and his clothes haven't
been changed and he hasn't showered since being arrested. His nails
haven't been cut and there were blotches on his face and teeth."

His wife Randa said he's targeted for "assassination," but his spirit's
high and determination resolute to strike against Israel's "illegitimate
and inhumane policies."

Along with global actions on his behalf, dozens of Ofer prisoners began
hunger striking in solidarity. Adnan's a national hero headed for martyrdom
for a just cause.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News
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